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godzillagirl66's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This was a good solid suspense read with a lot of atmosphere and a good ensemble cast. It doesn't crest the 4-star level for me though. I liked the veterans but the girl seemed a little over the top (just what kind of things do they teach at her summer camp?).
However, I did like the narrative style and would definitely read this author again.
However, I did like the narrative style and would definitely read this author again.
discocrow's review
4.0
I won this book through the wonderful first-reads program.
When I first began reading this book, it was with a great mixture of emotions. I typically don't read crime thrillers, but here was [a:Dennis Lehane|10289|Dennis Lehane|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1227580381p2/10289.jpg] praising [a:Sean Doolittle|277865|Sean Doolittle|http://www.goodreads.com/assets/nophoto/nophoto-U-50x66.jpg] on the cover. [a:Dennis Lehane|10289|Dennis Lehane|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1227580381p2/10289.jpg] of [b:Shutter Island|21686|Shutter Island|Dennis Lehane|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1329269081s/21686.jpg|1234227] fame, and well known for just about everything else he'd ever written. Fears of reading outside my general genre somewhat abated, I opened it up.
It took me a while to get used to the writing.
The general premise of the book is a fascinating one. Years earlier, a young girl was killed by a well known architect - not in a drunk driving accident, but rather in a tired driving accident. The architect, terribly wealthy, got off fairly easy and without great injury. The girl was in a coma for forty eight hours before passing away. The girl's brother was killed in combat, the girl's father committed suicide. The girls mother certainly wasn't getting it easy.
To make matters worse, the fellow behind the wheel of the car who killed her - he got off easy with a fine and the added punishment of spending forty eight hours in prison on the anniversary of her death for five years. That's it. This is justice? The whole novel hinges upon that question.
On the fifth anniversary of this, it looks like someone had finally had enough of this and taken matters into his own hands. The architect's daughter is kidnapped, and all signs are pointing towards the kidnapper being a relatively unhinged ex-vet who was friends with the murdered girl's brother. Our protagonist, who also knew the murdered girl's brother, is trying to figure out just what's going on.
The novel switches between the reporter covering the story, a bookie trying to collect from the kidnapper, and the friend of the kidnapper's point of view making for the case being watched from all eyes. The writing is crisp, quickly moving, and easy to read. I can't say I had any complaints stylistically, or plot-wise with the piece. It made for fast reading, and while I would refer to it as 'genre fiction' is there really anything wrong with that?
All in all, this is a good book to read during the summer, and one that I would pass on to friends who I know love the thriller genre. [a:Sean Doolittle|277865|Sean Doolittle|http://www.goodreads.com/assets/nophoto/nophoto-U-50x66.jpg] does have great writing chops, and I'll be keeping my eyes open for more of his books. Heck, I'd be surprised if some of his books didn't get tapped for movie adaptations in the near future. This is writer with a bright, bright future.
When I first began reading this book, it was with a great mixture of emotions. I typically don't read crime thrillers, but here was [a:Dennis Lehane|10289|Dennis Lehane|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1227580381p2/10289.jpg] praising [a:Sean Doolittle|277865|Sean Doolittle|http://www.goodreads.com/assets/nophoto/nophoto-U-50x66.jpg] on the cover. [a:Dennis Lehane|10289|Dennis Lehane|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1227580381p2/10289.jpg] of [b:Shutter Island|21686|Shutter Island|Dennis Lehane|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1329269081s/21686.jpg|1234227] fame, and well known for just about everything else he'd ever written. Fears of reading outside my general genre somewhat abated, I opened it up.
It took me a while to get used to the writing.
The general premise of the book is a fascinating one. Years earlier, a young girl was killed by a well known architect - not in a drunk driving accident, but rather in a tired driving accident. The architect, terribly wealthy, got off fairly easy and without great injury. The girl was in a coma for forty eight hours before passing away. The girl's brother was killed in combat, the girl's father committed suicide. The girls mother certainly wasn't getting it easy.
To make matters worse, the fellow behind the wheel of the car who killed her - he got off easy with a fine and the added punishment of spending forty eight hours in prison on the anniversary of her death for five years. That's it. This is justice? The whole novel hinges upon that question.
On the fifth anniversary of this, it looks like someone had finally had enough of this and taken matters into his own hands. The architect's daughter is kidnapped, and all signs are pointing towards the kidnapper being a relatively unhinged ex-vet who was friends with the murdered girl's brother. Our protagonist, who also knew the murdered girl's brother, is trying to figure out just what's going on.
The novel switches between the reporter covering the story, a bookie trying to collect from the kidnapper, and the friend of the kidnapper's point of view making for the case being watched from all eyes. The writing is crisp, quickly moving, and easy to read. I can't say I had any complaints stylistically, or plot-wise with the piece. It made for fast reading, and while I would refer to it as 'genre fiction' is there really anything wrong with that?
All in all, this is a good book to read during the summer, and one that I would pass on to friends who I know love the thriller genre. [a:Sean Doolittle|277865|Sean Doolittle|http://www.goodreads.com/assets/nophoto/nophoto-U-50x66.jpg] does have great writing chops, and I'll be keeping my eyes open for more of his books. Heck, I'd be surprised if some of his books didn't get tapped for movie adaptations in the near future. This is writer with a bright, bright future.
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